---
schema_version: "1"
id: cb2a8f6ad698a9308176a37ec6964cd233cf357d4c0da4dbe415f3a5ab4e7045
title: Make a File Private
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/experience/264-0-0/collab_files_make_private.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_files_make_private.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: c9420e3b9dbc912882cfb790c1244a0ccd94f7030360de15142ba48b58954b4c
description: You can restrict access to shared files that you own by making them private.
products:
  - Experiences
release: "264"
---
# Make a File Private

You can restrict access to shared files that you own by making them private.

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small "><colgroup><col style="width:100%"></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Salesforce Classic</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>Essentials</strong>, <strong>Group</strong>, <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Professional</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, <strong>Contact Manager</strong>, and <strong>Developer</strong> Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

To stop sharing a file that you own or have the “Modify All Data” permission for, make the file and the file link private (![file lock](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-experience-collaboration-264-0-0-production-enus/1aab5b5e-c990-4b8c-840a-6fb18af49709/collaboration/images/file_lock.png)).

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-experience-collaboration-264-0-0-production-enus/1aab5b5e-c990-4b8c-840a-6fb18af49709/images/icon_important.png)

Important On private files, file metadata is not also private. A user without permission to access a private file can nonetheless access the file’s metadata. So, for example, through a private file’s metadata, an unpermitted user can see who’s following the private file.

1. From the file detail page, click either ![Share File](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-experience-collaboration-264-0-0-production-enus/1aab5b5e-c990-4b8c-840a-6fb18af49709/collaboration/images/file_share.png) **Share File** | **Sharing Settings** or **Show All** on the Shared With list.
2. In the Sharing Settings dialog box, click **Make private** (or **Restrict access** if the file originated in a Salesforce CRM Content library).
3. In the confirmation dialog box, click **Make private** (or **Restrict access**).

Making a file private removes it from any posts that it's attached to and removes it from everywhere that it's been shared. Only the owner and people with the “Modify All Data” permission can access it. If the file originated in a Salesforce CRM Content library, it’s removed from everywhere that it's been shared, except the library.

If the file is shared using a content delivery, the content delivery becomes inaccessible, but is not deleted. If the file is shared using **Share via link** in Chatter, the link to the file is deleted.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-experience-collaboration-264-0-0-production-enus/1aab5b5e-c990-4b8c-840a-6fb18af49709/images/icon_note.png)

Note Salesforce doesn't remove geolocation information from uploaded images.

#### See Also

- [Chatter Post Visibility](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_post_visibility.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Learn where you can post in Chatter, who can see your posts, and whose posts you can see.")
- [View Where a File Is Shared](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_files_shared_with.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Find out who can see a file and their level of access. From the File Detail page, you can access a full list of every person or object the file is shared with.")
- [Prevent Others from Sharing and Unsharing a File](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_files_freeze_sharing.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can prevent others from sharing and unsharing a file that you own. Preventing others from sharing or unsharing doesn’t affect existing shares.")
- [Make a File Private on a Record](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=experience.collab_files_make_private_on_record.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use the File Privacy on Records setting to control who can see a file when it’s attached to a record. The setting is available when you edit a file’s details.")